Environment shapes a culture's personality

+ when thinking makes brain tumors grow US Edition - Today's top story: Nearly 20% of the cultural differences between societies boil down to ecological factors – new research [View in browser]( US Edition | 7 June 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Destroyed dam in Ukraine jeopardizes nuclear plant safety]( - [States in need of insurance are not in good hands]( - [The]([Olmec, “mother culture” of ancient Mesoamerica]( Lead story People are people, all over the world. At the same time, though, cultures can be quite different from place to place. How much does the place have to do with the culture that evolves there? Arizona State University researchers Alexandra Wormley and Michael Varnum are social psychologists. Their field has been zeroing in on fascinating connections – like the observation that places with less access to water tend to have cultures that are more forward-looking. When fresh water is scarce, they write, “there is more need to plan so that it doesn’t run out,” or so the thinking goes. Wormley and Varnum compiled a data set based on how 200 societies ranked on nine key features of ecology and dozens of aspects of cultural variation. They identified a number of previously unnoticed relationships between the ecology and the culture of particular societies – and even quantified how much of these differences can be [traced to environmental factors](. [[Help us reach more readers with truthful, trustworthy journalism.](] Maggie Villiger Senior Science + Technology Editor How much of a culture could be due to things like the grain it traditionally grew? Visoot Uthairam/Moment via Getty Images [Nearly 20% of the cultural differences between societies boil down to ecological factors – new research]( Alexandra Wormley, Arizona State University; Michael Varnum, Arizona State University A number of theories try to explain how cultural differences come to be. A new study quantifies how such factors as resource abundance, population density and infectious disease risk can contribute. Science + Technology - [Kakhovka dam breach raises risk for Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – receding waters narrow options for cooling]( Najmedin Meshkati, University of Southern California The International Atomic Energy Agency says the plant has enough water to last for several months. What happens afterward or if the remaining water is lost to the war could lead to a disaster. - [Brain tumors are cognitive parasites – how brain cancer hijacks neural circuits and causes cognitive decline]( Saritha Krishna, University of California, San Francisco; Shawn Hervey-Jumper, University of California, San Francisco Glioblastoma is the most aggressive type of brain cancer, causing significant decline in cognitive function. New research suggests a common anti-seizure drug could help control tumor growth. Politics + Society - [Forts Cavazos, Barfoot and Liberty — new names for army bases honor new heroes and lasting values, instead of Confederates who lost a war]( Jeff South, Virginia Commonwealth University The last relics of ‘lost cause’ ideology are being removed, as a federal panel renames US military bases that honored Confederate generals. - [Kakhovka dam breach: 3 essential reads on what it means for Ukraine’s infrastructure, beleaguered nuclear plant and future war plans]( Matt Williams, The Conversation Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the attack on crucial civilian infrastructure. Experts explain what the incident means for future war plans, and for the safety of the affected region. - [Mike Pence is jockeying against Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination – joining the ranks of just one vice president who, in 1800, also ran against a former boss]( Shannon Bow O'Brien, The University of Texas at Austin Pence’s announcement that he will run for president brings to mind how rare it is for a vice president to compete against a former running mate. Health + Medicine - [Mounting research documents the harmful effects of social media use on mental health, including body image and development of eating disorders]( Emily Hemendinger, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Research shows that social media, with it endless promotion of unrealistic standards of beauty, has had a negative impact on millions of young people. Education - [This course studies NGOs aiming to help countries recover from mass atrocities and to prevent future violence]( David Campbell, Binghamton University, State University of New York College students learn about people who have dedicated their professional lives to reducing the threat of violence – and their successes and failures. Ethics + Religion - [Aztec and Maya civilizations are household names – but it’s the Olmecs who are the ‘mother culture’ of ancient Mesoamerica]( Karl Taube, University of California, Riverside The return of an important monument to Mexico puts a spotlight on a culture whose influence is still felt in the Americas today. Environment + Energy - [Why insurance companies are pulling out of California and Florida, and how to fix some of the underlying problems]( Melanie Gall, Arizona State University It’s not a question of if insurance will become unavailable or unaffordable in high-risk areas – it’s a question of when. A disaster risk expert explains. - [The ugly side of beauty: Chemicals in cosmetics threaten college-age women’s reproductive health]( Leslie Hart, College of Charleston Finding cosmetics that are free of hormone- disrupting chemicals often means paying more. An epidemiologist explains the risk, particularly for young women. - [Peaches are a minor part of Georgia’s economy, but they’re central to its mythology]( William Thomas Okie, Kennesaw State University A 90% crop loss in the Peach State may sound like a disaster, but Georgia isn’t actually the Big Apple of peach production that it claims to be. Economy + Business - [UK PM Sunak visits Washington to strengthen ties, watch baseball – having already struck out on trade deal]( Garret Martin, American University School of International Service The UK leader’s visit to the US comes amid trouble at home, with low ratings for his Conservative Party. But don’t expect much joy for Sunak on trade or Northern Ireland. 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